By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent
WASHINGTON - A historic veto showdown assured, Democratic
leaders agreed Monday on legislation that requires the first
U.S. combat troops to be withdrawn from Iraq by Oct. 1 with
a goal of a complete pullout six months later.
"
No more will Congress turn a blind eye to the Bush administration's
incompetence and dishonesty," Senate Majority Leader
Harry Reid (news, bio, voting record) said in a speech in
which he accused the president of living in a state of denial
about events in Iraq more than four years after the U.S.-led
invasion.
Bush, confident of enough votes to sustain his veto, was unambiguous
in his response. "I will strongly reject an artificial
timetable (for) withdrawal and/or Washington politicians trying
to tell those who wear the uniform how to do their job," he
told reporters in the Oval Office as he met with his top Iraq
commander, Gen. David Petraeus.
Taken together, the day's events marked the quickening of
a confrontation that has been building since Democrats took
control of Congress in January and promised to change policy
in a war has claimed the lives of more than 3,200 U.S. troops.
Congressional negotiators for the House and Senate met in
late afternoon and ratified the details of the legislation.
Republicans voiced opposition, but made no attempt to delay
or even seek changes. "We all know this bill is going
nowhere fast," said Rep. Jerry Lewis (news, bio, voting
record), R-Calif., referring to the veto threat.
"Congress is preparing to deliver a message of surrender
just as General Petraeus arrives in Washington this week to
brief the commander in chief and members of Congress on the
war," he added.
The bill includes more than $90 billion for the wars in Iraq
and Afghanistan, the withdrawal timetable that Bush finds objectionable
and billions of dollars in domestic spending that he also has
threatened to veto. Overall, the bill totals $124.2 billion.
Democratic aides said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (news, bio,
voting record) and Reid hope to clear the measure through both
houses by Friday and send it to Bush by early next week for
his expected veto. The Democratic leaders have not said whether
they will attempt to override the veto in what would be a largely
symbolic act given the number of Republicans who have said
they will back the president.
There is far less certainty about the next steps in the historic
wartime confrontation between Congress and commander in chief.
Reid and other Democrats have said repeatedly they will not
leave the troops without the funds they need, but they have
not said whether they will first force Bush to veto at least
one more bill before sending him legislation he finds acceptable.
In his remarks, Reid criticized Bush and called Vice President
Dick Cheney the president's "chief attack dog," lacking
in credibility.
He likened the president to Lyndon Johnson, saying the former
president ordered troop escalations in Vietnam in an attempt "to
save his political legacy," only to watch U.S. casualties
climb steadily.
Bush, he said, "is the only person who fails to face
this war's reality and that failure is devastating not just
for Iraq's future, but for ours."
Reid had made similar comments at a White House meeting last
week among Bush and top lawmakers, and the president dismissed
the comparison with Johnson, according to several participants
in the session. This time, Dana Perino, the president's spokeswoman
fired back. She said it was Reid who was ignoring reality,
not the president.
She said Reid is in denial about the vicious nature of the
enemy and about the U.S. led plan to provide more security
in Iraq. "He's also in denial that a surrender date he
thinks it is a good idea. It is not a good idea. It is defeat.
It is a death sentence for the millions of Iraqis who voted
for a constitution, who voted for a government, who voted for
a free and democratic society."
As outlined by Democratic officials, the emerging legislation
would require the withdrawal of U.S. forces to begin by Oct.
1, even earlier if Bush cannot certify that the Iraqi government
is making progress in disarming militias, reducing sectarian
violence and forging political compromises.
Another provision in the measure would withhold about $850
million in foreign aid funds from the Iraqis if the government
does not meet those standards.
Also, the Pentagon would be required to adhere to certain
standards for the training and equipping of units sent to Iraq,
and for their rest at home between deployments. Bush could
waive the guidelines if necessary. Democrats assume he would,
but want him on record as doing so.
Under the nonbinding timeline, all combat troops would be
withdrawn by April 1, 2008.
After that date, U.S. forces would have a redefined and restricted
mission of protecting U.S. personnel and facilities, engaging
in counterterrorism activities against al-Qaida and other similar
organizations and training and equipping Iraqi forces.
Democrats jettisoned some of the additional domestic spending
that Bush has held up to ridicule, including funds for spinach
growers and peanut farmers. But Reid, Pelosi and others decided
to include money to help farmers hit by natural disasters as
well as the victims of Hurricane Katrina.
Reid's speech blended criticism of Bush, an appeal for patience
to the anti-war voters who last fall gave Democrats control,
and an attempt to shape the post-veto debate.
"I understand the restlessness that some feel. Many who
voted for change in November anticipated dramatic and immediate
results in January," he said.
"But like it or not, George W. Bush is still the commander
in chief and this is his war," Reid said.
Looking beyond Bush's expected veto, he said, "If the
president disagrees, let him come to us with an alternative.
Instead of sending us back to square one with a veto, some
tough talk and nothing more, let him come to the table in the
spirit of bipartisanship that Americans demand and deserve."
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